Airplane landing and launching apparatus



7 March 24, 1931.

R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE LANDING AND LAUNCHING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l avwwntoz 351 Gwen/war 63%. M21 m4 2am March 24, 1931. R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE LANDING AND LAUNCHING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwuehboz 1E, m@ D,

mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmv w. $51 batten m1 @M; (MW v w/QM Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STA'EESPATENT OFFICE RICHARD GIBBONS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; ASSIGNOR TO 'MARY A. KENNEY, OF

BROOKLYN,

AIR-PLANE LANDING AND Application filed June 15,

contained which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention. embodiment, however, is to be considered merely as illustrative of its principles. In the drawings Fig. 1 is aplan view of an apparatus constructed to operate in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig 1, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with certain parts cut away of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the present invention" alarge structure, such as the top of a large building, may be utilized for landing or launching purposes, the top surface or roof 1 of the structure being used as a runway if comparatively flat, or a special top surface built for this purpose if necessary. Insofar as the dimensions of the structure may require, I also provide what I have referred to hereinafter as ramps 2 projecting out laterally from the top surface of the structure so as to overhang the sides thereof, and these ramps have undersurfaces 3 which are curved from the outer edge of the ramp gradually down to the side surface, with the result that air currents approaching the structure will be split. by the ramp into an upper current which will pass evenly over the top surface 1 of the structure,-,and a lower current which will be deflected clownwardly by the undersurface 3 of the ramp. A concave surface 3 is employed of such curvature that the air currents below the level of the ramp will follow evenly along Such NE YORK LAUNCHING APPARATUS 1 927. Sara; No. lessee. V

In this way substantially uniform air conditions f-may be maintained on the top surface of the structure due; to the uniform horizontal air currents Wl1l0l1' will pass there- 'over, as contrasted to the disturbed air conditions which would exist if the air backing up against the side of the structure were permitted to passupwardly so as to cause upward currents andhigh pressure near the edge of the surface 1 with probably some 'rarefaotion and vortices at certain points.

.over'the surface 1. Theramps 2 thus avoid theneccssity, in usinglarge structures for landing purposes, of providing a landing surface which is much elevated above the tepf level of the structure and supported by skeleton construction, special towers or the i like, high above the structure proper, so as to obtain unlform air conditions in landing.

The undersurface 3 of the ramps and/or the side of the'structures maybe providedvwith opening 3a to, relieve the volume of air which will tendlto build up duefto the downward deflection causedby the ramps and the upwarddeflection which will be caused by the sidesof certain structures, the air thus relieved being exhausted through the interior of the structure or off at the sides of the structure which are parallel 'tothe Wind.

It will be understood that in some instances a structure'may be available of sufficient length to make it unnecessary to use the ramp at its ends, in which case ramps at its opposite sides will be sufficient, but a struc ture-will rarely be found available in congested districts which will have both sufiicient length and width to permit safe landing with all different directions of wind without the use of ramps at least at the sides of the structure.

By'the use of ramps as aforesaid, safe air conditions are maintained-for landing against thewind, as regards directions of wind where the dimensions of the structure are so short as to makeit necessary for the full effective runway length to be madeavailable, and thus special turn table constructions need notbe provided-to enable a long runway to be adust'ed angularly according to the direction of QQ'W n i i r l I i I tio.

" iavin from the left as the structure appears in Fi 1, the left hand section 4 will be adjusted to inclined posit-ion and the remaining sections 4: will remain in the, general plane of the top surface. The air plane will land upon the ramp 2 which appears at the right h nd of Fig. 1 and pass onto the inclined seca, A above mentioned so that the inclinationof the latter may assist in bringing the plane to rest. It will also be understood that hese sectioned may be provided with special guiding and retarding features ofconstruc tlon, such as shown inthe prlor patent to Richard Gibbons No. 1,560,775. dated November 10, 1925 or H. CfMummert -No. 1,582,188 dated April 27, 1926, which features however I have not considered it necessary to show or describe in detail herein.

As in the case of the ramps 2, only as many of the sections 4 need be employed as the dimensions of the structure require, itbeing generally necessary to provide at least two of 7 them to be used when the directionof the wind is crosswise of the structure, and each respective far edge of the landing surface.

lVhllea spec fic form of the invention has been disclosed, it will be obvious, that many changes may be made therein without?" departing'from its principles as set forth in the appended claims. V

'I claim 1.- An airplane landing and launching apparatus utilizing the top of a large structure having extensive top and side surfaces, which comprises a ramp projecting out from the 'top surface tooverhang a side surface, the

ramp having an under surface gradually curved to deflectdownwardly air currents approaching below the outer edge of the ramp, whereby the air currents, passing over the ramp onto the top surface of the structure will be split off from and left undisturbed" by those below the level of the ramp, and means associated with said apparatus, for relieving the excess air which tends to. build up'beneath the ramp.

2- l irp ane. andi 1 aun ng ppar uti i ing as tenet large truct r com ses a ramp projecting out. from the top a E V 7 surface to overhang a side surface, the

ramp having an undersurface' 'gradually' g extensive t p an side r ac s, which curved to deflect downwardly air currents approaching below the outer edge of the ramp, whereby the air currents passing over the ramp onto the top surface of the structure will be split off from and left undisturbed by those below the level of the ramp, the undersurface of said rainp being provided with openings to permit the relief of air there-through.

3. An airplane landing and launching apparatus utilizing the top of a large structure having extensive top and side surfaces, said apparatus having openings associated with one or more sides of said apparatus for withdrawing air from the air zone which is located below the level of said top surface and outwardly of the corresponding side surfaces.

4. An airplane landing and launching apparatus utilizing the top of a large structure having extensive top and side surfaces which includes a ramp projecting out from the top surface to overhang a side surface, said apparatus having openings for withdrawing air from beneath said ramp.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of June, 1927.

' RICHARD GIBBONS.

section being inclined or tilted toward the 

